Fitness based control of communication device

ABSTRACT

A method and system for limiting the amount of screentime available to a child device based on the activity of a user of the child device. A parent device is used to specify activity threshold(s) and associate them with an amount of screentime. A wearable activity sensor provides activity data that is converted to a screentime value. An available screentime value is decremented as screentime is used on the child device. When the available screentime value reaches zero, access to functions or apps on the child device is disabled.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This US non-provisional patent application is a continuation of andclaims the benefit of and priority to U.S. non-provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 16/886,258 filed 20 May 2020, which claims thebenefit of and priority to U.S. non-provisional patent application Ser.No. 15/697,793 filed 7 Sep. 2017 which claims the benefit of andpriority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/384,326filed 7 Sep. 2016, each entitled “Fitness Based Control ofCommunications Device,” the entire contents of which are specificallyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD The invention generally relates to tracking physicalactivity, and in particular to managing an entertainment device accessand features based on physical activities. BACKGROUND

Many individuals are overweight or obese. Individuals can be employees,family members, dependents and friends. In particular, parents try toencourage exercise or physical activity in children. As computer-basedtechnology with, for example, entertainment and social media pervadeever more aspects of individuals and especially children's' lives,exercise often takes second chair to these less healthy forms ofentertainment. Some parents have tried to prevent overuse of televisionand gaming by creating parental locks on televisions. For instance, U.S.Pat. No. 5,231,310 discloses a parental television lock, and U.S. Pat.No. 5,060,079 discloses a parental television lock where children canunlock the television for periods of time selected by a parent via useof a programmed card that tracks the child's television usage andremaining time allotment. Others have realized that exercise andtelevision need not be separate and competing interests. U.S. Pat. No.6,376,936 discloses a wireless on and off switch for a television wherethe switch is controlled by a threshold of peddling speed on astationary bike.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawingsor summarized below. It is to be understood, however, that there is nointention to limit the invention to the forms described in this Summaryof the Invention or in the Detailed Description. One skilled in the artcan recognize that there are numerous modifications, equivalents andalternative constructions that fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the claims.

In one particular aspect of the present application, a system allows aparent to limit their child's time spent on a communication ortechnology devices, such as a cellphone, smartphone, tablet, laptop, settop box or computer (a “child device”). This technology allows for theparent or device owner to set activity thresholds that limit the child'sor end user's time spent on that device. A range of technology used bythe device owner can be synchronized to manage screentime from a parentaccess mode. (The term screentime is referring to the amount of timeallowed/spent using a technology driven device). This means that if anend user spends their free time using any of the items listed above,then each technology driven device can be managed through the mobileapplication technology downloaded to the technology devices.

In addition to parents, the system is equally usable by guardians orother persons. For example, a person may use the system to control acommunications device of an elderly parent in a nursing home when it isdesired that the parent remains physically active. In this context, theterm “child” or “child device” can refer to the person or device that iscontrolled by another person, which is referred to herein as the“parent” or “parent device.”

In another aspect of the present application, screentime may be earnedby a participant through activity levels which can be tracked by variousmethods such as, for example, wearable technology. The more active theparticipant, the more access that individual accumulates. The activityinformation derived from the participant's wearable activity trackerprovides data that can then be compared to previously configuredthresholds. These thresholds can vary dependent on age, weight, height,setting, fitness experience and lifestyle. This technology allows for aparticipant to individually pre-select or determine to participate infitness activities with the established thresholds which, once thosethresholds have been met, can then be redeemed for screentime access.

Other embodiments of the disclosure may also be characterized as asystem for locking and unlocking functions and features of user devices.The system can include an application and a set of servers with memoryand a processor. The application can be for collecting and transmittinguser activity data. The memory can be for storing the user activity datathat describes a user activity level. The processor of a first servercan be configured to convert the user activity data to a value andtransmit a request to the second server based on the value. The 2^(nd)server can be configured to receive the request to enable a user device,user device feature, user device application, or feature of a userdevice application. The second server can further be configured todetermine if the request can be met with the value and to fulfill therequest if there is sufficient value.

Still other embodiments of the disclosure can be characterized astangible computer readable media embodying a method of locking andunlocking user devices, features, applications, and features ofapplications. The method can include storing user activity data in amemory, where the user activity data describes a level of user activity.The method can also include accessing the user activity data in thememory via a processor. The method can further include converting theuser activity data to a value via the processor. The method additionallycan include storing the value in the memory. Furthermore, the method caninclude receiving a request to enable a user device, user devicefeature, user device application, or feature of a user deviceapplication. The method can also include determining if the request canbe met with the value in the memory, via the processor. Finally, themethod can include fulfilling the request if there is sufficient value.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of theinvention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated inthe drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. Itwill nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of theinvention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modificationsin the described embodiments, and any further applications of theprinciples of the invention as described herein are contemplated aswould normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the inventionrelates.

A device management system that controls access to functions of a devicebased on fitness or activity levels of the present application isdescribed. The system includes a control application which is installedon a device to be controlled. The control application includes anadministrative mode. The administrative mode facilitates theinstallation of a profile on the device, creates and modifies aparticipant account on an application server including the establishmentof activity threshold values and limited access functions for thedevice, and monitors a status of the participant account. The controlapplication can include the administrative mode on a device other thanthe one being controlled with the same operations, access to informationand interaction with the application server.

The control application further includes a participant mode. Theparticipant mode tracks activity data for a participant with a trackerinterface. The participant mode sends activity data and requests accessto the limited access functions on the device from the applicationserver through an application server interface. Activity of aparticipant can be tracked with an activity tracker which is integral tothe participant device, a wearable activity tracker linked to theparticipation device, and the like. The activity data can include datasuch as steps, heart rate, calories, distance, flights of stairs,consecutive minutes at heart rate, consecutive minutes of activity, andthe like.

The application server maintains a participant account which can includethreshold values, activity data and a list of limited access functionsfor a device; determines access availability to the limited accessfunctions based on the threshold values and the activity data; and sendsinstructions to enable and disable the limited access functions. Theapplication server may further be capable of monitoring device functionaccess availability based on an access time frame established from thetime enabling instructions are sent and a request to disable access tothe limited access functions is received.

One aspect of the invention of this application is a method forproviding access management of a device based on tracked levels ofactivity. The method utilizes an application server running software.The method also utilizes a mobile control application which is run fromthe device on which access is to be managed.

After recognizing a participant device with the mobile controlapplication, steps are taken to install a profile on the participantdevice and create a participant account with the application server.These steps can be accessed when the mobile control application is in anadministrative mode. The administrative mode would be accessible to anindividual with the authority to manage access to functions of a device.The individual with authority can, for example, be an employer or aparent.

In a further aspect of the application, the administrative mode can beoperated from a device other than the participant device. The mobilecontrol application is installed on the admin device to provide theadministrative mode. From whichever device an administrator utilizes themobile control application, the administrator would be able to accessassociated participant account information and make modifications. Inanother aspect, the administrative mode may also provide status andactivity data about a particular participant. The administrator may becapable of managing the accounts and control of multiple participantdevices.

While in the administrative mode, steps are taken to create an accountprofile by submitting account information that can include, for example,participant information (name, age, height, weight, etc.), thresholdsfor earning access, how much access is earned, which functions to limitaccess to, and the like. In another aspect, the administrator can selectpre-determined account information such as, but not limited to, activitythreshold levels established for a child based on characteristics of thechild including age, height, weight, gender and the like. In anotherexample, the account profile can designate activity threshold levelsthat vary according to a day of the week.

Threshold examples can include (a) 3,000 steps taken=15 minutes ofearned access time where for each time the participant logs 3,000 steps,the participant earns 15 minutes of access time, (2) 100 caloriesburned=15 minutes of earned access time where for each time theparticipant burns 100 calories, the participant earns 15 minutes ofaccess time, (3) heart rate hits 100=5 minutes of access time where foreach time the participant's heart rate goes above 100, the participantearns 5 minutes of access time, and the like.

Once a mobile device application is installed and while in theadministrative mode, a profile is installed. The profile includes a setof function permissions. The function permissions of the profile controlaccess to designated functions on the participant device. To install theprofile, the administrator initiates a request from the mobile controlapplication operating on the device to be managed. The application sendsthe request with a set of credentials to the server. The serverauthorizes the profile installation request with the credentials. Theprofile is transmitted and installed on the participant device. Theinstalled profile can then implement a set of function permissions onthe device. By implementing the set of function permissions, the profilecontrols access to a set of designated functions on the participantdevice.

In one aspect of the present application, the mobile control applicationcan run in a participant mode. In the participant mode, the participantdevice receives activity data. The activity data can include severaltypes of data such as but not limited to steps, heart rate, calories,distance, flights of stairs, consecutive minutes at heart rate, andconsecutive minutes of activity. The activity can be tracked withhardware that is integral with the participant device or from a separatedevice. The separate device would be linked to the participant device toallow the activity data to be transferred between the two devices. Themobile control application can then utilize the transferred data. Theseparate device can be a wearable device.

The activity data is transferred from the mobile control application onthe participant device to the application server. The software on theapplication server uses the activity data along with the account profileto create an access record. The access record will include the accesstime the participant has earned with the activity data.

The participant can transmit an access request from the mobile controlapplication on the participant device to the application server. Theapplication server determines whether the access should be granted basedon the access record created with the activity data and the accountprofile. A set of instructions are generated in response to the whetherthe access record includes access time and sent to the server. Theserver sends an updated profile to the participant device to modify thefunction permissions. Modifying the function permissions can grantaccess to the limited access functions on the device. The request foraccess process can be repeated.

In one example, the application server software determines to grant theparticipant access based on an access record including access timeearned for activity. An enabling instruction is transmitted from theapplication server to the server. The server then transmits an update tothe profile on the participant device. The updated profile includesfunction permissions that allow access to the designated functions onthe participant device.

In a further aspect, the application server determines how long theparticipant will have access to the designated functions. Theapplications server tracks the time from when instructions for enablingaccess are sent and compares that time with the access time of theaccess record. When the allowed time reaches the time available in theaccess record a disabling instruction is transmitted to the server. Theserver then transmits another updated to the profile on the device. Thisupdate includes function permissions that prevent access to thedesignated functions on the device.

In an alternative aspect, the participant can transmit a stop request tothe application server. The application server sends disablinginstruction to the server to prevent access to the designated functions.The application server, tracking the usage access time, can then updatethe access record with a reduced amount of available time for the accessrecord.

In one specific example, a parent downloads the Mobile Application froman online storage facility (e.g., Apple store) to their Child's device.Once the Mobile Application is downloaded, the Parent has the ability tolink one or a plurality of Child devices to the Parent's account throughthe App. The Parent accesses the Child's account settings using anadministrative mode on the Parent's device or the Child's device to setup the fitness/activity thresholds. This allows the Parent to setfitness/activity thresholds for each Child to meet or exceed beforeaccess to selected Apps is provided on the Child's device. Parents couldhave the option to grant or deny access to the Child's phone or deviceat any time regardless of earned activity time with an overridefunctionality. Parents can also set a time frame in which each Child canand cannot earn/use screentime. For example, access is allowed onlybetween 7 am-9 pm. The corollary being access would be denied from 9:01pm-6:59 am.

Further in the administrative mode, the Parent would be provided withthe home layout of each Child's device (the device home display screen).The Parent would go through the layout and select which Apps orfunctions will display all the time and which Apps or functions willdisappear when the Child is denied screentime. This process allows theParent to hide all Apps and Games that the Child is commonly using basedon activity levels of the Child. This forces the Child to put down thedevice or phone and be more active. Once the Parent has set up thefitness/activity levels and selected Apps to display/hide, screentimeand access to favorite Apps and Games are managed and earned by eachChild dependent on the configured thresholds.

Another last step that may be required is the synchronization of theChild's wearable activity tracker. The wearable would be Bluetoothed tothat Child's device. Bluetooth allows for the Mobile Application to pullin the fitness/activity information from the Child's wearable activitytracker automatically. Another option would to allow the Application tosync to the wearable tracker creating a connection between the wearableand the app.

The main way for a Child to earn screentime is to meet a Parentconfigured threshold. If the Child is not active then the Child's devicewill remain locked until activity thresholds have been met.

In another example, Tony is 11 years old and has run out of screentimeat 5 pm on a Thursday night. The child decides to sit and watch TV for 2hours and then gets a call from a friend. The friend wants to play amobile app based game with him beginning at 8 pm. Since Tony decided towatch TV instead of getting up and earning more screentime throughtrackable activity, Tony is paying the consequences of no screentimebecause he decided to not be active. The only way Tony could play thegame with his friend at Bpm is to work as hard as he can to meet theparent configured fitness/activity threshold. Tony can decide at 7 pmthat he is going to be as active as he can before 8 pm. He recognizesthat he loses access to everything on his phone at 10 pm each week night(because that was how his parents configured his access) so he needs tobe extremely active if he wants to earn at least an hour of screentimeto play this game with his friend.

From 7 pm-8 pm Tony does push-ups and sit-ups along with running up anddown the stairs in his home. Throughout the hour Tony ended up burning114 calories and his heart rate hit >100 5 times. With Tony's wearableactivity tracker tracking this activity, the information isautomatically sync'd to his device. Once the synchronization hasoccurred from the wearable tracker to the device, the mobile applicationwill transmit the information to the application server where hisactivity is compared to the Parent configured thresholds. Since Tony'sparents configured the settings to grant 30 minutes for reaching 100calories and 5 minutes every time his heart rate broke 100, Tony endedup earning 55 minutes of screentime. The extra 14 calories that Tonyburned can be saved to Tony's activity log so the next time he runs intothis issue, Tony starts off with 14 calories that he has already burnedinstead of starting at 0.

In yet another specific example, Erika is a 21-year-old college studentthat downloads the mobile application. Erika as her own administratorconfigures fitness thresholds along with setting up a time each night tolimit access for study purposes. Her personalized thresholds add 15minutes of screentime each 5,000 steps along with 5 minutes each timeshe burns 100 calories. Erika needs to lose 15 pounds before hersister's wedding so she made it more difficult for herself to earnscreentime. Erika loves to use Facebook®, Instagram®, Pinterest® andSnapChat® so these are the main social media applications that she hasblocked herself from when her screentime has expired. Erika originallyearned 30 minutes for each 5,000 steps and 15 minutes per 100 caloriesburned. Erika noticed that if she lowered the amount of screentimegranted per threshold that she could easily lose much more weight beforethe wedding. To keep on track with her studies, Erika blocked each weeknight from 10 pm-11 pm for studying purposes. So even if Erika got sidetracked during this study period and turned to her cell phone by habit,the mobile application technology would hide the selected applicationsfrom Erika's mobile device application layout view. This forces Erika tostay off her phone and study.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in thedrawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered asillustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood thatonly the preferred embodiments have been shown and described and thatall changes and modifications that come within the spirit of theinventions are desired to be protected. It should be understood thatwhile the use of words such as preferable, preferably, preferred or morepreferred utilized in the description above indicate that the feature sodescribed may be more desirable, it nonetheless may not be necessary andembodiments lacking the same may be contemplated as within the scope ofthe invention, the scope being defined by the claims that follow. Inreading the claims, it is intended that when words such as “a,” “an,”“at least one,” or “at least one portion” are used there is no intentionto limit the claim to only one item unless specifically stated to thecontrary in the claim. When the language “at least a portion” and/or “aportion” is used the item can include a portion and/or the entire itemunless specifically stated to the contrary.

1-20. (canceled)
 21. A fitness-based access management method comprisingthe steps of: providing a parent device, comprising a processor andsoftware, and being operable to: execute an app, store a child deviceidentifier, specify an activity threshold and an associated screentimeamount, communicate with a child device represented by the child deviceidentifier; providing a child device, comprising a processor, a screenand software and being operable to: store an available screentime valuefor the child device, execute a plurality of apps, communicate with theparent device, suppress the display apps; designating on the parentdevice apps or functions on the child device to which access may bedenied; storing an available screentime value for the child device;receiving activity data from a wearable activity sensor, converting theactivity data to a value representing an additional amount of screentimebased on the activity threshold, adding the value representing theadditional amount of screentime to the stored available screentimevalue, decreasing the available screentime value as available screentimeis being used on the child device, preventing the access to thedesignated functions or apps on the child device when the availablescreentime value reaches zero.
 22. The fitness-based access managementmethod of claim 21 further comprising the step of linking the activitysensor to the child device whereby the child device receives activitydata from the activity sensor.
 23. The fitness-based access managementmethod of claim 22 wherein the activity data from the wearable activitysensor represents steps, heart rate, calories, distance, flights ofstairs, consecutive minutes at heart rate, or consecutive minutes ofactivity.
 24. The fitness-based access management method of claim 21further comprising the steps of: designating on the parent device timedurations when the access to the designated functions or apps on thechild device will be prevented; transmitting the designated timedurations to the child device through an application server interface,preventing access on the child device to the designated functions orapps during the designated time durations regardless of the availablescreentime value.
 25. The fitness-based access management method ofclaim 21 further comprising providing an application server interfaceoperable to facilitate communication between the parent device and thechild device.
 26. The fitness-based access management method of claim 21further comprising the step of: manually synchronizing the child devicewith the activity tracker to receive activity data from the wearableactivity sensor.
 27. The fitness-based access management method of claim21 wherein the activity threshold is selected from the group consistingof heart rate, calories, distance, flights of stairs, consecutiveminutes of activity, or consecutive minutes at heart rate.
 28. Thefitness-based access management method of claim 21 wherein the parentdevice is further operable to: store multiple child device identifiers;and permit specification of activity thresholds associated with ascreentime amount for multiple child devices.
 29. A fitness-based accessmanagement system comprising: a parent device comprising a processor andsoftware, and being operable to: execute an app, store a child deviceidentifier, specify an activity threshold and an associated a screentimeamount, designating on the parent device apps or functions on a childdevice to which access may be denied, communicate with a child devicerepresented by the child device identifier; a wearable activity sensor;a child device, comprising a processor, a screen and software and beingoperable to: store an available screentime value for the child device,execute a plurality of apps, communicate with the parent device, receiveactivity data from the wearable activity sensor, convert the activitydata to a value representing an additional amount of screentime based onthe activity threshold, add the value representing the additional amountof screentime to the stored available screentime value, decrease theavailable screentime value as available screen time is being used on thechild device, prevent the access to the designated functions or apps onthe child device when the available screentime value reaches zero. 30.The fitness-based access management system of claim 29 wherein theactivity sensor is linked to the child device to thereby receiveactivity data from the wearable activity sensor.
 31. The fitness-basedaccess management system of claim 30 wherein the wearable activitysensor senses activity comprising either heart rate, calories, distance,flights of stairs, consecutive minutes of activity, or consecutiveminutes at heart rate.
 32. The fitness-based access management system ofclaim 29 wherein the parent device is further configured to: designatetime durations when the access to the designated functions or apps onthe child device will be prevented; transmit the designated timedurations to the child device; and wherein the child device is furtherconfigured to: prevent access on the child device to the designatedfunctions or apps during the designated time durations regardless of theavailable screentime value.
 33. The fitness-based access managementsystem of claim 29 further comprising an application server interfaceoperable to facilitate communication between the parent device and thechild device.
 34. The fitness-based access management system of claim 29wherein the child device is further configured to manually synchronizewith the activity tracker to receive activity data.
 35. Thefitness-based access management system of claim 29 wherein the parentdevice is operable to permit the activity threshold to be selected fromthe group consisting of heart rate, calories, distance, flights ofstairs, consecutive minutes of activity, or consecutive minutes at heartrate.
 36. The fitness-based access management method of claim 29 whereinthe parent device is further operable to: store multiple child deviceidentifiers; and permit specification of activity thresholds associatedwith a screentime amount for multiple child devices.